"A mere three or five ungraded spirit materials might be enough to buy off rogue cultivators like us, but only for a job or two. They aren't even worth risking our lives for, and he still thinks he can win over Li Ling and Mu Qingsi?"
"Could this Huai River Commandery Prince not even know that spirit materials have grades?"
"No way. Surely there can't actually be someone who can't tell spirit material grades apart?"
"Hard to say. Don't assume princes and nobles are all knowledgeable. Some are dragons and phoenixes among men, but others can't tell the five grains apart and never lift a finger. For all we know, he might even think an ordinary egg is some precious delicacy!"
"Hahahaha..."
After the laughter died down, Pine Daoist's expression grew solemn. "I finally understand why the Dragon Lord sent us here undercover to pretend to join the Huai River Commandery Prince. Of all the Princes of the Xu Xin Commanderies, he really is the stupidest and easiest to control!"
"That's true. He was sent off to rule his own territory early on and has been throwing his weight around ever since. Who would dare teach him anything?"
"Conceited, shortsighted, hungry for grand achievements, impatient and reckless-he checks every box. A perfectly qualified puppet, indeed. But how are we supposed to support someone like that? According to the plan, he's supposed to fail in his assassination attempt, flee back to his fief, and establish an independent domain. I'm worried he won't survive the ordeal. If he dies here, we'll be in trouble."
"Don't worry. The Dragon Lord already gave his instructions: protect him if we can, and abandon him if we can't. The main thing is to use him as a stone cast ahead to test the path, sounding out